Faithfulness in a Changing World
Faithful Living in a Changing World
April 17, 15
As I get older and older the ability to remain faithful to God is always a challenge. It takes a lot to stand up in society now and stand on the word of God. In To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern world, I was really drawn to the challenge of faithfulness. The job of being a pastor with our many failures and the request people have for you, can make you feel like are you up to the job? Remaining committed to the work of the Lord and to his people is always a challenge. I like this quote by David Hunter, “St. Paul, in Acts 13: 36, refers to King David having “served God’s purpose in his generation.” This suggests, of course, that faithfulness works itself out in context of complex social, political, economic, and cultural forces that prevail at a particular time and place.”[1]I have often pondered my purpose in life. Its one thing to do what everybody else is doing and another thing when you are doing what God wants you to do. And this is the test of your faithfulness. When you can be committed to what God has called you to do.
This is important because the social context can be totally different from other peoples social context and people can and will look down on you for some of your friends. I have seen this with pastors. Some believe you have to be in this group or that group to be accepted. But I find it hard to fit into a context I am not really feeling. And as I was walking down the street I began to contemplate my calling. Understanding your purpose is important to you your calling. And being faithful to your calling takes a lot of nerve sometimes. You can be up one minute and down the next but that is when your faithfulness has to kick in. I can remember not even having strength to preach one morning because I had such a terrible week. I asked my wife to preach and she said no way. And I had to preach. I find that it is in times like this that we realize that we have a calling. I really did not know how I would get through that service but some how God bought me through it.
To Change the World helps put things in perspective I think. We all have our special place in the world and in our cultural context. My prayer is that God would just continue to give me the courage to impact the world the way he wants me too like King David did in his time. Its just those days you don’t do great that you feel like you are not being faithful to God. I understand how David must of felt making all the mistakes he did. I was thinking about him because I did a lengthy study on his life. And what stands out the most about him was his ability to stay faithful to God and his purpose for his life. I think that is a great thing when we can just be faithful to what God called us to do and be content with that!!!!!
[1] David Hunter, To Change the World: The irony, tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the late Modern World [New York: Oxford University Press, 2010], 197.
About the Author
Travis Biglow
Pastor of Victory Empowerment Center. Regional Chaplain High Desert Regional Center Graduates Azusa Pacific University. Licensed General Contractor B. I am the married with one daughter, two grandsons and one step son.6 responses to “Faithfulness in a Changing World”
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Travis,
I have experienced the same questioning. Sometimes it is difficult to ascertain our calling in the day-to-day work that we do. And, when we figure out what our calling is, then it seems that Satan puts obstacles in our path. Being in ministry is one of the hardest jobs there is, yet also brings much blessing in the end. Being content in what God has called us to do is significant.
Dawnel
Yes ministry is, just today i did not have it in me. But i have learned to just pray and show up and minister to the saints. And the church was full on this day. God gave grace to preach and minister today! Praise his name!!!
Travis, Love your prayer . . . “that God would just continue to give me the courage to impact the world the way he wants me too like King David did in his time.” There is something powerful in the simple. Kind of like main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing . . . I think we can say the main thing is to keep the simple things simple . . . and faithful. I think we all have a crazy week ahead wrapping up all our work of the semester but I pray we will all have a peace was to go after it and that we will feel faithful to the work God has called us towards.
Amen Phillip, i am trying to get that work and reading in. Keeping it simple and faithful, i like that! And thats about it until God grooms us for more! Thats the way i look at it. May God give you grace this week in your papers!!!!
It really does come down to just being faithful in your own local context… Bloom where you’re planted!
So true Jon so true!